Story Highlights

Arizona standouts Nick Johnson and Aaron Gordon, along with Arizona State's Jahii Carson, played their first games Saturday in the NBA Summer League in Orlando. A rundown of each:

*Johnson, playing for the Houston Rockets, provided the play of the day. With three minutes left in the third quarter of Houston's 95-89 loss to the Pistons, the former Arizona standout drove left past Peyton Siva and elevated, slamming home a left-handed dunk on Detroit's Tim Ohlbrecht. The play seemed to wake up everyone in the Amway Center.

Johnson, the NBA Draft's 42nd pick, started at the point, scoring the game's first points off a lob. Johnson also showed off his perimeter defensive skills, guarding Siva for most of the game. He played both guard spots, finishing with 18 points, scoring in a variety of ways. In addition to the dunk, Johnson hit two 3-pointers, canned a nice mid-range jumper off the dribble and hit a twisting, fade move in the lane. He shot 7-of-14 overall and also collected five rebounds and three assists ( with three turnovers) in 30 minutes.

Yes, it's just one game -- in the summer league, no less -- but NBA TV analyst Isiah Thomas (the Hall of Famer) was impressed. "They have a real player, a real find," Thomas said of Johnson during the telecast. "And I don't think we're watching a one-time thing. Some players come to the summer league and they get hot, but when you go back and you watch what he did in college, this is Nick Johnson. He's a baller."

*Carson -- who went undrafted -- backed up Johnson at the point and at times played alongside his former college rival. First thing that stood out: his defensive effort, something scouts have wanted to see. He harassed former Georgetown guard Markel Starks early in the contest, once forcing a turnover, earning applause from Houston's coaching staff. Carson finished with six points, four assists and two steals (with two turnovers) in 15 minutes. His best stretch came in the third quarter when he assisted on three consecutive possessions, one off a pick-and-roll, one off a pass-back 3-pointer and the third coming in transition.

*Like Johnson, Gordon had his own highlight play, but his came on the defensive end. In the fourth quarter of Orlando's win over Philadelphia, the former UA standout leaped to contest K.J. McDaniels' shot in transition. But instead of blocking it, the 6-foot-9 Gordon simply caught it and took off down court, ultimately losing the ball.

`A lot of people swat it into the second row and it's unnecessary,'' Gordon -- selected by the Magic with the draft's fourth overall pick -- told OrlandoMagic.com. ``But if you can get it and go the other way, (do it). But I got a little excited and tried to push it, but you aren't supposed to try and go behind the back in open court. I broke a Cardinal rule.''

Gordon got off to a slow start, and never seemed to find his place in the halfcourt. In 25 minutes, he scored seven points (on 3-of-11 shooting) and collected five rebounds (with four turnovers). He was 0 of 2 from 3-point range and 1 of 2 from the foul line.

*Former ASU guard Jermaine Marshall joined Johnson and Carson on the Rockets but did not play.